Glass-gathering apparatus



may 26, M925.

W. WESTBURY GLASS GATHERING APPARATUS m. A- NX May 26, 1925. 1,539,707

1 w. wEsTBURY GLASS, GATHERING VAPPARATUS wma a.

May 26, 1925. 1,539,707

A w. wEsTBuRY GLASS GATHERING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28. 1924 3 SheetsySheet l3 Q Magnum? rameau, y I 1,539,707

UNITED sTATi-:s PATENT'OFFICE. i

WILLIAI mTBUl, F GANASTOTA, NEW YORK, .SSIGNGR TO LAURA. mA WBTBURY, 0F INDEPENDENCE, KANSAS.

cuss-Gaume manartrs.

application mea January as, i924. semi iro. esao.

To all whom. it may' concern.' section, of a glass ladling apparatus em- Y Be it known that I, WILLIAM WiesruizY, bodying my invention. 50

a'citizen of the United States, residing at e Figure 2 is atop lan view of the same. Canastota, in the county ot Madison and Figure 3 is a sidi; view, showingonly 6 State of New York, have invented new and necessary parts, illustrating the operation ofV useful Improvements. in Glass-Gathering manipulating the ladle.

Apparatus, of which the following is a Figure 4 is a vcross-section on line 4--4'0f 65 specification. Fi re` 1.

This invention relates to an apparatus igure 5 is a cross-section on line 5-5 of for gathering (ladling glassfrom a glass e 1.

melting furnace an transferring the igure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figvcharges of glass drawn from the furnace to ure 60 suitable receptacles for use. More particu- Figure 7 is a detail view of the gearing larly the invention relates to aUapparatus for operating the crank gear. 16 of this characterfor supply'V charges of Figure 8 is a diagrammaticplan view glass from a tank furnace tonglass drawing sh l pots or the like, from which the glass is furnace, ladling apparatus and drawing 65 drawn in the form of cylinders iii -a wellstations. known way, which cylinders are subdivided In carrying my invention into practice, I 20 and flattened for the production of window provide a traveling crane construction comglass. The invention may, however, be emprising a carriage 1 provided with wheels ployed for performing .similar operations 2 to travel upon track rails 3. These rails 70 for any purpose. are shown as arranged upon a floor or-'sur- One' object of the invention is to rovide face 4.- and extending parallel with.v the front Il an electrically operated apparatusw 'ch en of a glass melting tank or furnace` 5, proables the ladle to be easily, conveniently and vided' at the front with 'one or more openrapidly manipulated for charge ga ings 6 for the removal of glass therefrom. 75 movements into and out of the furnace, an The surface 4 as disclosed, is arranged in owing a preferred arrangement of tanliwhich also enables the ladle to be transa suitable horizontal plane below the level 'A a0 ported ,and manipulated outside the furof the openings 6in order that the parts of nace for deposit of the charge into a suitthe crane structure` may be disposed in Yably situated pot or other receptacle. proper working relation to said openings, so

^ Another object of the invention is to pro but instead of laying the rails 3 upon siich vide a ladllngl apparatus, and alated surface 4 they may be supported at a suit- COIlStluction and arrangement 0f l'i'S ill able elevation above the -openings 6, when- '4 a glass 'dmWilg System, Whel'eby e ladle ever it is desired to provide for use an overmy be employed t0 Supply glas' t0 a Phlhead crane structure', in which 'event the rality of drawing stations arranged on one A wheels v2 will be ro r1 arranged to rim or both sides of the mouth of the melting upon the overhea rialay Y 40 L furnace, or at other suitable points adjacent Su ported upon the carriage lis a crane thereto. v arm which carries the ladle 8, and which With these and other objects in view, the crane arm is of telescopic constructioni and 90 'invention consists of the features of con-.coiisists of a su porting head or sleeve memstruction, combination and arrangement of ber 9 and a or bar member 10 extending Y parts, hereinafter fully described and longitudinallytheret-hrough and projectin claimed, reference being had to the acco beyond o posite ends' thereof. The sai' panying drawings, in which head or eeve meinber'lO is formed to ro- 95 Figure 1 is`a side elevation, partially'invide `a longitudinal guideway 11 'in w ch these trunnions is provided with a crank arm 14 which is coupledby a connecting rod 15. to a dipper control lever 16 pivotally mounted upo bar member 10, by the backward and forward swinging movements of which lever 16 the ladle 8 may be tilted vertically upon its trunnions, as indicated in dottedV lines in Figure 3, for dippingand discharging actions. The lever 16 is provided with a suitably operated dog or pawl 17 to engage the teeth of a rack se ent 18, whereby said lever, and consequent y the dipper 8, may be held fixed against movement in any position of adjustment.

The head or sleeve member 9 is provided with depending spaced bracket arms 19 which it between fork arms 20 upon a sup-- porting post or pedestal 21 extending upward from the carriage 1, 'and passing through said bracket arms 19 and fork arms 201s a shaft 22 forming a pivotal support for-the crane arm whereby said crane arm may be turned as a whole in a vertical plane,

this construction adapting the ladle 8 to be 'raised' and lowered to properly position it as required for insertion into and withdrawal from the furnace and for dipping and discharging actions. On the carriage 1 is a second supporting pedestal 23 having a saddled or forked upper end 24 adapted to re'- ceive the head portion 9 ofthe arm 7 to firmly and vstably support the crane arm when in normal lowered or horizontal position, as shown in Fi re'l.

While the gathering apparatus may be `employed for general purposes, it is especially designed, as shown in the present instance, for extracting charges of glass from a tank furnace, as the furnace 5, and conveying the charges of glass to glass pots or other receptacles arranged at glass'drawi'ng stations 25. In the present' instance two rows of such drawing stations are shown arrangedon opposite sides ofthe front portionof the furnace -5, there being vfour stations in each row, and the trackway 3 extends past the front of the furnace and the rows of drawing stations 25, lso that the gatherer may be employed to dip charges of glass from the furnace and convey the same to the pot or receptacle of any drawingstation in either row, and to supply these drawing stations with charges of glass in proper and regular order as required in the operation of such drawing stations. Each drawing station may be of the kind customarily employed for drawing glass cylinders to be used in the manufacture of winn the rear end of the rod or dow glass, including a glass drawing pot, a heating kiln and drawing mechanism of any forth between the furnace an the series of drawin stations at each side thereof and for manipu ating the ladle 8 as required for introducing it into the furnace, gathering a charge of glass from the body of glass therein, withdrawing the filled ladle, transporting it to the desired drawing station and dischargin the charge of glass from the ladle' into t e designated drawing pot.

Mounted upon the carriage 1 is a prlmary motor 26 of the electric type and which is supplied with electric current in any preferred way. The shaft of this' motor is in gear, through intermeshing gear elements 27 with a primary drive shaft 28carrying gears 29 and 30, the gear 30 meshing with a gear 31 on a Vstub shaft 32, whereby the gear 31 is driven in a different direction from the ear' 29. The gearing described is provided ger driving a transmission shaft 33 Vfrom the primary drive shaft 28, which shaft 33 communicates motion. to the carriage/Wheels 2 for propelling the carriage along the track 3 in one direction or the other. To this end the shaft` 33 is shownas provided with a gear 34 meshing with a fre-ar 35 ony a shaft or axle 36 connected to the Wheels 2 at one side of the carriage frame. Feathered or otherwise suitably fitted to slide upon and rotate with shaft 33 is a sleeve 37 carrying gears 38 and 39 adjustabley by movements of said sleeve to respectivelyl mesh with gears 29 and 31 or to occupy a neutral position in a position vbetween gears 29 and 31, as'

shown in Figure 1, they will be in neutral osition with respect to gears 29 and 31 and iience the carriage drive mechanism, with the exception of the primari will be out of operation so t at the carria may stand still in any position along t e` trackway. A gear control lever 40 is pivotally mounted on the carriage and is suitdriving shaft,

ably coupled, as at 41, to the sleeve 37 so as i to adapt the sleeve to be slidably moved thereby while also permitting saidl sleeve to rotate with the shaft 33 without affecting the lever 40. Said lever 40 is provided with a dog or pawl 42 adapted for engagement of any one of three notches in ai rack segment 43 by which the gears may be held 1n forward or; rearward driving or neutral pousavo? i sition. Through the mechanism described,

which is under coiliggnient cotirol of the operator occupying seat44 e supporting bracket only of which is shown), the gathering apparatus may be propelled to desired 'tions along the track rails 3 and broug t to a state of rest in an working sitlon. If desired, any suitab e type of rake mechanism may be employed to act upon the wheels or track rails to hold the carriage lixed against possibility of movef ment 1n any working position, but I have not deemed it necessary to show any type of brake mechanism' for this purpose, as any ordinary or well known type of brake mechanism ma be employed.

The rod or ar'member 10 is adapted to be moved backwardl and forwardly the head or sleeve mem r 9 of the crane arm for the purpose of advancing or retracting the ladle 8 in the operation of inserting said ladle into the furnace and withdraw@ ing it therefrom and positioning the ladle as required above the drawing pot of a drawing station. To this end, the head or sleeve member 9 is provided in its underside with a slot and the undersideY of the bar member 10r isrprovided with rack teeth 46 exposed through `said slot for engagement with a gear 47 on the shaft 22,

on one end of which shaftl is a worm gear 48. As shown, the gear 47 is mounted upon the intermediateportion of shaft 22, between the bracket arms 19, and said' gear 47 is mounted concentric with and upon the pivotal axis on which the crane arm is' adapted to be tilted, whereby simultaneous tilting motion of the arm as a whole and' sliding motion of the rod member 10 within the head or sleeve member 9 may be simultaneously carried out without causing interference. Gear 48 meshes with a worm v49 on va transmission shaft 50'; This shaftl 50 is arranged in parallel relation-to the motor shaft are gears 53 and 54,

shaft 5l of a' second electric motor 52 'are ranged at the front of the carriage. On this meshing'with a suitably supported idler or reverse gear 55. On the shaft 50 are gears 56 and 57 for meshing engagement respectively with gears 53- and 55. gears 56 and 57 are carried by a sleeve 58mounted on shaft 50 in a manner similar to Figures 1 and 2 show-thev w the mounting of sleeve 37 on shaft 33, and

coupled to this sleeve, in a manner similar .to the connection of lever 40' with sleeveI posed below the level of `sha gearing described may, however, be set into It will thus be understood that the ladle 8 by means of the gearing thus described, may be moved forwardly` or rearwardly to any ear 57' degree required'within the range of movement of bar 10 to position it within or withdraw it from the furnace 5 or to dispose it in proper position above the pot of any drawing statlon 25, while by means of the lever 16 and its cooperating connections the ladle or dipper 8 may be tilted for gathering and dumping operationsand locked in charge holding position. Assuming, there-` fore, that the gatherer is disposed in front of the furnace, it is obvious that the ladle or dipper may be moved forward through one of the openings 6 into the tank 5 and, after being operated to dip up a charge of glass, maybe withdrawn throu h the opening 6 and the drive gearing t en set into motion to move the carriage in either direction to convey the charge of glass to any one of the drawing stations 25,0n either side of the furnace. Y

Mechanism is also provided for tilting or swinging the crane arm 9 on its axis 22 Vfor the purposevvof -raising and lowering 'the' ladle or dipper 8 within a predetermined working range below its normal horizontal position. I This mechanismV comprises a link or connecting rod 62 connecting the rear portion of the crane arm with a crank Aor wrist pin 63 on a crank gear 64 journaled on a shaft or axle 65 mounted on the carriage. T he toothed periphery 66 of this gear'64 meshes with a'pinlon 67 on a transf mission shaft 68 carrying a beveled'gear 69 meshing with a similar drive gear 70 on the forward end of the shaft of the priioo mary motor 26. The gear 70` is normally loose on the motor shaft and r-unsidly, and is provided with a clutch sleeve'71 for cooperation with a` sli clutch sleeve 72 on said motor shaft, which sliding'clutch sleeve is suitably connected by a crank arm V73 to an actuating arm'.74 coupled in turn .by a connecting rod 75 to a control lever 76 whereby the gearing described may be thrown intoand out of action at wilhWhen the dipper carryingarm 7 is in normal horizonta position as shown in Figure 1,' the rod or link 62 stands in a substantially vertical position with the crank action toturn gear 64 and cause an upby motion will be communicated through the link 62 to elevate the rear portion of the crane arm 7, thus depressing the front portion of said arm and the ladle or dipper 8. The pin 63 may have a range of motion of 180'or more So that the crane arm and dipper may have a tilting motion to the degree required to raise and lower the dipper to any extent necessary for a proper working action. Suitable means nay be provided, such as a dog and a rack, for Veach lever 61 and 76, whereby said levers and the parts actuated thereby may be locked in different positions for an obvious purpose. 'I It will be seen from the construction described that the invention provides a ladler or gatherer which is self-propelled for movement along a trackway for gathering glass from a furnace and conveying charges of glass to drawing stations arranged at one or both sides of the furnace. The arrangement of drawing stations at both sides of the furnace, as shown in the present instance, enables one gatherer to be employed successively or in proper order for serving glass to from four to eight stations as required for use in drawing glass cylinders of any length and diameter, or for supplying glass for any other similar or analogous purpose. This working arrangement provides a compact organization of parts which effects a and withdrawn from the material saving of time and labor in supplying glass from a furnace to a number of drawing stations in -a rapid and economical ,'manner. It will further be seen that the invention provides a means whereby the dipper or ladle maybe moved into the furnace,

depressed and tilted so as to be submerged and take up a charge of lass, then raised urnace'and held securely supported in charge holding position while the; charge is being .transported by the motion of the carrier to a designated drawing station, and that upon arrival at a station the dipper may be moved outwardly,

raised. and lowered and tilted to properly position it above the drawing pot oi'. receps tacle at the drawing station and inverted t0 discharge'the charge of-glass therein, all of -which maybe accomplished in a simple,

ready and convenient manner by a workman from his position on the seat 44 or other suitable su port on the carria e frame or platform. e construction escribed y fui'theill"adapts the dipper or ladle to be dis- 35` posed so that itinay be heated in the furnace i to melt out any aftermath or residuum after each dipping action and -to properly heat ity for the rece tion of a succeeding charge i without liability of unduly chilling such charge; These and other advantages will be readily understood by those versed in the l art without a further and extended description.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim :--l y 1. In a gatherer of the character described, the combination of a carriage, a vertically tilting arm mounted on the carriage and comprising telescopic sections, one of said Isections being pivotally connected with lthe ally mountedarm section for tilting lsaid l arm in a vertical plane.

2. Ina athering apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling carriage, a crane arm mounted on the carriage, said arm com rising a vertically swinging section pivota mounted on the carriage at a point in a vance of its rear end and a sliding section carried thereby, a dipper carried by the sliding section, rack and lpinion mechanism including a (gear pinion mounted concentric with sai pivotal connection for sliding said sliding section in and out to advance or retract the dipper, means coupled to the pivoted section in rear of its pivotal connection for raising and lowering the pivoted section on its pivotal connection, and means for controllingv the dipper.

3. In'a athering ap aratus of the character descri ed, the com inationof a traveling carriage, motor driven means for propelling the carriage, a dipper supporting arm ,comprising a 'tilting section ivotally mounted on the carriage and a section engaging said tilting section, sai tilting section being pivotally mounted adjacent its forward end, a ivotally mounted dipper carried by the slidin section, means for sliding said slidin section in and out, neans for controlling tie dipper, and means 4. Ina gatherer of the character described, the combination of a traveling carriage, a dipper carrying arm comprising a tilting section pivotally mounted adjacent its forward end on the carriage, and a sliding section movable in said tilting section, a dipper carried by the sliding section, a support for thepivoted arm section adapted to e engaged by the rear portion of said arm section when in normal position, means for sliding said sliding armsection in and out and means for vertically tilting the pivoted arm section on its pivotal connection.

5. In' a -gatherer of the character described, the combination of atraveling carriage, a dipper-carrying arm comprising a rod section upon the vsleeve section, means direction or the other, and means coupled sleeve isectiony anda rod section slidably mounted therein, said sleeve section being pivotally mounted adjacent its forward end on the carriage, gearing supported in part by said'pivotal connection for sliding the forsupportingl the rear end of said sleeve section when in lowered position, and means applied to said sleeve section for raising and loweringthe arm.

6. In a gatherer of the character described, the combination of a traveling carriage, a dipper supporting arm comprising a sleeve section having a guidewayprovided with a slot in the bottom thereof, and a rod section slidable in said guideway and having rack teeth facing said slot, a pivotal support vfor the forward end of the sleeve section, means for advancing and retracting the rod section including a gear disposed beneath said slot and engaging said rack teeth, a dipper supported by the rod section, and meansl cou-- pled to the sleeve section for tilting the arm 1n a vertical plane.

7 In a gatherer of the character described, the combination of a traveling carriage, a

^ vertically tilting, extensible dipper carryingarm comprising a sleeve-section and a rod sectionv sliding therein, said sleeve section being'pivotally connected with the carriage at a point between its ends and having fa longitudinal slot and said vrod sectionV having rack teeth presented at said slot,

means for sliding vthe'rod section including a gear mounted concentrically withsaid lpivotal connection and engaging said teeth through said slot,'a dipper carried by the rod section, and means'a -plied. to the sleeve section in rear of its plvot for vertically tiltirg the arm.

' 8. n a gatherer of the character described, the combination of a traveling carriage, a

dipper carrying arm comprismg' a sleeve sectlon and a rod section sliding therein, said sleeve sectionA having a longitudinal slot and said rod section rack teeth present- I ed at said slot, a pivotal support for theV sleeve section including a shaft, means for l tion inc meshingwith said rack tee. slet, means for said 1n on sliding said rod sectionv including a gear mounted on said shaft and meshing with said rack teeth throughl said-slot, a dipper supported by the rod section, and means applied to the sleeve sectionv for vertically tilting the arm.

9. In a gatherer of the class described, the combination 'of a travelingl carriage, per supiortir arm including a s eeve section an a section sliding therein, said sleeve section having a longitudinal s lot and said rod-section rack teeth presented at said slot, aY ivotal support for the sleeve secuding a s aft, a gear on said shaft th Vthrough said the sleeve section for vertically tilting the 10. In a gatherer of the character described, the combination of a carriage, a dipper carrying' arm comprising a sleeve section and a rod section sliding therein, said sleeve section having a longitudinal slot and tion, and means for controlling said dipper.

11. .In a gatherer of the character de-- scribed, the combination of a carriage, a dipper supporting arm comprising telescopically connected sections, one of' saidi sections be' pivotally mounted on thecarriage and slida y' receiving the other, a dipper carried by the sliding section, means for sliding said sliding section longitudinally of the pivoted section, a dipper supported` by the sliding section, means for controlling the same,

a crank gear, means for operating the same,

and a' connection between said crank gearand the pivoted arm section for raising and lowering said arm.

12. In a gatherer of tlie character de'- A scribed, the combinationof a wheeled carriage, a dipper supporting arm mounted on the carriage and-comprislng a ivoted Section, and a sliding section fitte dipper carried by the sliding section, a motor and drive gearing for` propelling the carriage, a second motor and gearingfor sliding the sliding arm section upon, the piv A. :oted arm section, crank mechanism coupled- .A to the pivoted arm section for swinging the jjn arm in avertical plane, and gearing actuattherein, a'

ed by the first-named motor for operating said crank mechanism.

13. Ina gatherer of the character f'scribed,the combination of .a wheeled carriage, a` dipper supporting arm mounted on vthe carnage and comprising a pivoted section. and a sliding section connected therewith, Aa dipper carried by vthe slidingsecv tion, meansfor controlling the same,

applied tothe pivoted-arm section or r glrive 1nth anlilsllin for propelllin etcarri dlng e "garman actuangsal crank atwill. -v 14. v'agatherer of the described, the combination of a travelmg carand llowering. thefarntxand motor riage, a dipper supporting arm mounted'on nected su porting and clipper carrying sections, sai supporting sect1on being pivotally mounted at its forward end upon the carriage, a dipper carried by the dipper car- 5 rying section, gearing associated wlth said pivotal connection for advancing and retractng the sliding section of the arm,

means upon the carriage for supporting the pivoted section of the arm when in normal position, and crank gearing on the carriagev 10 coupled to the pivoted section of the arm for raising and lowering the same.

In testimony whereof I aix m 'si ature.

- WILLIAM WES B Y. 

